Bleeding during pregnancy may or may not be a sign of trouble. It depends on many factors, including how far along in the pregnancy it occurs, and how much bleeding occurs. It's best to be checked by a doctor just to be certain there are no complications with your pregnancy.

Make sure not to use a tampon or have sex before getting checked out to minimize the risk of infection.

Bleeding that occurs in the second and third trimester may be more dangerous than bleeding that occurs during the first trimester .

First Trimester

Bleeding during pregnancy in the first trimester could mean any of the following:

Miscarriage

Bleeding could be a sign of miscarriage . However, bleeding does not necessarily mean that miscarriage in inevitable.

Studies suggest that approximately 20%-30% of pregnant women bleed somewhat during early pregnancy. Of these, half end up in miscarriage, while the other half go on to deliver healthy babies.

About 15% of pregnancies are miscarried, which usually happens within the first trimester.

In addition to bleeding, miscarriage may also be signified by lower abdominal cramping and tissue passing from the vagina.

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg implants itself outside of the uterus - usually in the fallopian tube. This type of pregnancy loss is not as common as a miscarriage.

In addition to vaginal bleeding, other signs of an ectopic pregnancy may include: lower abdominal cramping, sharp abdominal pain, and low hcg levels .

Molar Pregnancy

This is a rare form of pregnancy loss; but is it possible that vaginal bleeding can be a sign of this. Molar pregnancies occur when abnormal tissue grows instead of an embryo.

Other signs may include: high levels of hcg, and cluster-like growths in the uterus that are seen through an ultrasound.

Aside from the above mentioned complications, bleeding or pregnancy spotting can be caused by:

- Implantaion bleeding. When the egg implants itself into the lining of the uterus, sometimes light bleeding can occur;

- Infection;

- Sexual Intercourse.

Second and Third Trimesters

In the second half of pregnancy, if pregnancy spotting or pregnancy bleeding occurs, it could be a sign of something more serious, such as:

Placental Abruption

If the placenta detaches itself from the wall of the uterus before labor, vaginal bleeding can occur. Placental abruption is a serious condition that must be brought to your doctor's attention immediately.

Placenta Previa

Placenta previa happens when the placenta covers the cervix. This is also serious and requires immediate attention.

Labor

Just before entering labor , your mucous plug may become dislodged, causing slight vaginal bleeding.